Alina amazes me every day. She is not even two and half, and already articulates and expresses concepts in ways I did not anticipate my two year old to do. So cliche, but, seriously, where did my baby go?!
Alina has matured by leaps and bounds since becoming a big sister, and although baby Sebastian needs so much of me, his many hours of necessary sleep provides me with ample time to continue the nourishment of my first born. I am forever grateful that Sebastian is a remarkably wonderful baby.
But, I’ve started to wonder…. is Alina outgrowing our old routine? Since she was hardly a year old, we have attended our library’s storytime on a weekly basis. Alina and I love the librarians, and they adore Alina too; storytime has been an invaluable resource for my family. {I rave more about the program in this post about the Las Vegas – Clark County Library District.} We have learned so much, not excluding reinforcing our love of literature, but we’ve come to a point where perhaps Alina is ready for new challenges.
As I look back on this year old post where I ventured into preschool shopping after an especially hard day of parenting, I realize how far I’ve come in my motherhood. And how much my precious daughter has grown. Preschool was not a necessity for her development back then, just a dose of extra patience for Mom and a bit of new stimulation and exposure for Alina… but is it time for preschool now?
Honestly, that question is a moot point. The reality of our circumstances dishes out the answer, without concern or regard for what I believe my child’s development calls for. Because, at this point of living on one income, we can’t afford outside preschool/daycare for Alina. With a new mortgage and a new baby, other priorities reign supreme in our household… and Daddy D and I agree on our priorities.
Does that mean this mom is sitting back and letting Alina’s most impressionable years pass me by without thought or focus?? Heck, no! At not even three years old, I believe that Mom, with some forethought and planning, can be Teacher enough. So let the learning begin! Or continue, rather…
D and I are committed to enrolling Alina in a preschool program outside the home by the time she nears four years old. But for now, I am determined to develop a new weekly routine that incorporates a curriculum of fun, friends and learning. Alina’s days are currently filled with hanging out with Baby B, errands, park dates, we read a gazillion books a day, she helps me with laundry. But, still, I feel like she needs a more proactive routine filled with conscientious learning. This is what I’m thinking:
We will likely keep our weekly library visit, pick up a city-sponsored gymnastic class for tactile learning {a mere $20/month} and begin to implement a designated day of homeschooling activities. In addition, once Sebastian is a few months old, we will pick up a second weekly library visit for his baby storytime program. I would like to keep weekends open for time spent with Dad and family, so hopefully I will be able to get everything in. I think I can, I think can!
Check out my School At Home Pintrest Board for some of the fun stuff we’ll be doing, and, by ALL means, feel free to recommend any resources you’ve found usefule as well {links welcome!}.
I pondered this same issue when my daughter was younger. I chose to keep her at home until she was four years old. These years will go by so fast…and they have so much school ahead of them. Why not enjoy this time at home as much as possible? Yes, it can be stressful for us moms, but I think there are all kinds of opportunities for learning that don’t involve preschool. Really enjoyed your post!
She is lucky to have such a resourceful, educated and thoughtful mom. I’d drop Max off at the Bell family education center in a heartbeat.
Vanessa, there are so many resources out there for mommies like you who want to nurture their child’s intelligence without sending them to preschool just yet. I have a few homeschooling blogs linked on my blog, but there are many, many out there (it can get overwhelming).
Sounds like you have a great plan. Keeping the library a part of your weekly life is smart. And physical activity, yes. You probably already do these, but here are some more suggestions:
- Take Alina (and baby boy) on daily walks and talk about what you see. Birds, rocks, pinecones (wait, are there pinecones where you live?).
Talk about smells and colors and count those leaves, rocks, etc.
- Purchase a zoo membership. While I know that’s not exactly cheap, it does allow you to go as many times as you want for a rich educational experience.
- Get a children’s museum membership. This is vital for us because the summers in the south are hot and sticky, so we need something fun and educational that’s not outdoors. Again, lots of learning to do there.
And while purchasing memberships seems like a costly investment, you actually pay for your membership after the first two visits or so. It’s a no-brainer.
M is in preschool (and we’re blessed that she’s in one of the best preschools in our area), but the teacher and mama in me keeps me on my toes when it comes to her learning. So I, too, am always looking for ways to nurture my child’s intelligence. All of us mamas have the same intentions.
Y’all have a good summer!
Oh, and just another suggestion. One of my teacher friends keep her children on a routine all summer. For example, zoo on Mondays, library on Tuesdays, etc. I know that’s easier said than done (especially with a baby in the house), but a variation of that type of thing may work for you guys.